Books

Melinda Curtis

Although I've lived in Georgia and Texas, I'm a California
girl at heart. My earliest memories are of life on an
isolated 50-acre sheep ranch in rural Sonoma County,
California. Picture rolling hills covered in brown grass, a
eucalyptus forest, a long gravel driveway lined with plump
sheep and no sidewalks. It was a big deal to drive into
town on a one-lane road in a ramshackle, bubble-fendered
pickup for an ice cream.

Later, we moved to the suburbs of the San Francisco Bay
Area where I was excited to discover children my own age
living just across the street! My mom taught school and
loved to take road trips in the summer. We drove to
Montana, Death Valley, Mexico, up the Oregon and Washington
coastline to Canada, and often sought relief from the
Northern California heat by camping in Yosemite. Although I
absolutely love road trips, my husband doesn't share the
interest. There's quite a conflict when we get in the car
together because I want to stop and investigate points of
interest, and he's all about making the best time minus
stops, except for bathroom breaks for the kids. Now, if I
could just get the kids to pipe up with a potty request
whenever I want to stop, I'd be happy.

I've always been an avid reader of just about anything --
romance, mystery, suspense, fantasy, biographies -- and
always loved to write. My first romance was written for my
friends in the seventh grade, featuring their heartthrobs,
including, I believe, Leif Garrett. I don't know what ever
happened to Leif, but I know he didn't marry one of my girl
friends. She did, however, end up with her own hero, a man
who makes her tremendously happy.

That's what I like about romances. There's always happiness
at the end of that journey the characters are taking. It
may be a comedy, suspense, mystery or drama, hot and steamy
or sweetly romantic, but you're still guaranteed the
happily-ever-after. So, I'll keep writing them. Besides,
what better reason than "research for my book" do I have to
make my husband stop on those long road trips?